Question 2 of 21

What term refers to visible differences between males and females of the same species?

... Species that exhibit sexual dimorphism tend to produce males and females with distinctly different-looking bodies.

Question 3 of 21

By what means did Charles Darwin suggest that humans and other organisms eliminate disadvantageous traits and strengthen desirable traits over time?

... Darwin is best known for his theory of evolution by way of natural selection, or "survival of the fittest." According to Darwin, nature encourages traits that lead to reproductive success.

Question 4 of 21

When did organisms first develop sex chromosomes, leading to distinctions between males and females?

... Sex chromosomes first developed around 150 million years ago, opening up the door for sexual reproduction.

Question 5 of 21

Which of the following reproduction strategies leaves a species more vulnerable to extinction?

... Asexual species are much more vulnerable to extinction than those that reproduce sexually. This could be for several reasons, including the fact that asexual organisms tend to accrue more negative mutations over time.

Question 6 of 21

How does the rate of asexual reproduction compare to the rate of sexual reproduction?

... Creatures that rely on sexual reproduction reproduce at about half the rate of asexual creatures.

Question 7 of 21

Which of these theories supports the idea that sex evolved to protect organisms against the threat of parasites?

... The Red Queen hypothesis is based on the idea that sex evolved to protect humans from parasites.

Question 8 of 21

What does a face that is average, or similar to many others, signal to a potential mate?

... Averageness of appearance may serve as a sign that a potential mate is prepared to cope with a variety of stressors.

Question 9 of 21

What does a symmetrical face signal to a potential mate?

... Symmetry is a signal of genetic health, and a sign of a genetically healthy mate.

Question 10 of 21

How did Darwin refer to traits that make a person more desirable to potential mates?

... Intersexual traits make a person more desirable to potential mates.

Question 11 of 21

How did Darwin refer to traits that give a person an advantage when it comes to competing for a potential mate?

... Intrasexual traits give one an advantage over competitors. For example, large muscles and a strong build represent intrasexual traits in human males.

Question 12 of 21

Are people more likely to choose mates with physical features similar to their own?

... Despite the common belief that opposites attract, people are more likely to choose mates that resemble them physically.

Question 13 of 21

How many children do attractive women have compared to those who are considered less attractive?

... A 2009 University of Helsinki study found that attractive women have 16 percent more children on average than less attractive women.

Question 14 of 21

Which of the following male characteristics is likely to result in the highest rates of reproduction?

... Taller men have more sexual partners and tend to have more children than men of average height.

Question 15 of 21

Which of these factors may interfere with natural selection when it comes to choosing a mate?

... Birth control pills can change what women look for in a potential mate.

Question 16 of 21

What are the primary traits that men look for in a mate?

... Whether consciously or not, men are drawn to youth and to features like full lips, which suggest fertility.

Question 17 of 21

According to studies on attraction and sex, what is the "ideal" waist-to-shoulder ratio for men?

... A waist-to-shoulder ratio of 0.6 is considered ideal for men.

Question 18 of 21

According to studies on attraction and sex, what is the "ideal" waist-to-hip ratio for women?

... The Venus de Milo, Marilyn Monroe and other famous beauties all had a waist-to-hip ratio of 0.7.

Question 19 of 21

Which classical theorist suggested that beauty was simply a matter of golden proportions, where each feature of the body met a specific distance and proportion to other body parts?

... Plato believed that beauty was a matter of meeting certain proportions in terms of body part placement and size.

Question 20 of 21

Which principle have some theorists used to explain the extravagantly decorated feathers of the male peacock?

... According to the handicap principle, some organisms evolve to produce genetically costly displays -- like the feathers of a male peacock. The sheer wastefulness demonstrates to potential mates that the individual bearing the trait has strength and resources to squander.

Question 21 of 21

What Darwinian name is given to the theory that sex evolved to prepare organisms to deal with the complexities of the environment?

... The tangled bank theory is based on the idea that sex leads to genetic diversity, which helps organisms survive.

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